Separating enclosure for towel racks



Dec. 29, 1953 H. B. GOODMAN 2,66

SEPARATING ENCLOSURE FOR TOWEL RACKS Filed April 4, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E I INVEN TOR. bi /1 B Goodman @44/ W! fly m Dec. 29, 1953 H. B. GOODMAN SEPARATING ENCLOSURE FOR TOWEL RACKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 4. 1949 PIES INVENTOR. HEN 7y B, Goad/72cm BY Patented Dec. 29, 1953 OFFICE SEPARATING ENCLOSURE FOR TOWEL RACKS Henry B. Goodman, New London, Conn.

Application April 4, 1949, Serial N 0. 85,440

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to towel holders or racks by means of which towels may readily be kept separate from one another and also designated for particular individuals where a number of persons are in the habit of using a bathroom or washroom where their individual towels are kept available on towel racks or bars.

The present invention provides a simple, attractive useful and sanitary towel separator which is readily installed on standard towel racks which may already be fixtures in bathrooms or the invention may include its own rack bar forming one of the features of the present invention.

One of the advantages and purpose of the present invention is to provide means for separating each towel from the next adjacent towel on the rack so that one will not come in contact with the other. A further feature of the present invention is to provide individual compartments or enclosures for each towel which, if desired, may be removed and another substituted for it. Various different color combinations may be used in the present invention and the individual compartments or enclosures may be arranged in such a way that a new one may be substituted for one of the group or the individual enclosures may be rearranged at will. The whole space on the bar may be filled so that adjoining enclosures interlock by a simple dove-tailin means.

A single rack bar which is independent of the compartments passes through all of the compartments serving as the means over which the towel hangs. The rack bar, when used in conjunction with the compartments designed for it, will fit into slots in the side walls of the compartments in such a way that the compartments or enclosures will wedge between the rack bar and the building wall so that the compartment or housing for each towel will be firmly and tightly positioned and have no tendency to be loose and come free when the towel is removed. Each towel casing or compartment may contain indices properly framed by means of which individual compartments may be distinguished and identified as being used by a certain individual.

The individual housings or compartments of the present invention are preferably molded of plastic either by injection or compressional molding in a simple manner preferably in such a way that simple mold constructions may be employed. However, other more complicated types of moldings may be used where it is felt advantages may be gained in the particular construction as will be noted in some of the modifications as set forth below.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the nature described molded of suitable plastic material in which the construction is extremely light but sturdy and strong. By this expedient, together with simple molding, it is possible to keep the cost of the article down extremely low. The cost of any such plastic article has a direct relation to its weight and to the dim- "of the surfaces 6 and in addition thereto the cor-" culty of assembly. In the present instance, the article may be produced as a single unit and will, therefore, when molded by injection moldings, only require labor for degating and packing which as will be seen from the article itself requires very little time.

The present invention will be more fully described in the specification as set forth below when read in connection with the drawings forming a part thereof in which Figure 1 shows the invention in elevation with a part having a fragmentary view.

Figure 2 shows a plan view looking down on one section.

Figure 3 shows a fragmentary perspective view lookin at the inside of a compartment or enclosure.

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary perspective view looking at the outside of an enclosure.

Figure 5 shows a side elevation of a modification viewed in relation to the building wall.

Figure 6 shows a further modification of the invention in the same position as shown in Figure 5; and Figure 7 shows a sectional view taken on the line of Figure 6.

In Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, I indicates a towel rack on which a group of towel enclosures or compartments, 2, 2, 2, may be supported. These may extend the length of the towel rack and be assembled in such a way that they completely fill the whole length and thereby are not readily moved from side to side or separated. However, if desired, the compartments may be separated one from the other and be slidable along the towel rack in which case the towel when folded over the rack will always slide with the rack and be in its proper position. Each compartment or enclosure 2 is formed with a back wall 3 which preferably should lie fiat or in contact with the room wall from which the rack I is supported, and two outwardly inclined side walls 4 and 5 which extend outward at an angle a little greater than 90 substantially as shown in the drawing with the back wall 3, so that each compartment will be spaced from its adjoining compartment except at the forward contacting ends of the side walls. The shape of the "enclosure is shown in Figure 2 as having straight sides but these of course may be formed as desired in straight or somewhat curved sides with material removed from the center of the various walls so that the enclosure will be materially lightened.

As indicated more clearly in Figure 2, the forward end surfaces of the side walls 4 and 5 at 6 lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to the surface against which the back wall 3 is to rest. Under these circumstances, any two adjacent side walls will fit with one another at their ends giving a continuous appearance to the group of enclosures as indicated in Figure 1.

As shown more clearly in Figure 4, an interlocking V-shaped joint 1 may be providedin each ners at 8 where the side walls and end walls join may be somewhat increased in' thickness. It will be noted, however, that the surface in the short section 9 near the corner is substantially parallel to the surface 6 which makes it simple for re-' traction of the enclosure in an injectiorrmold.

As indicated clearly in Figure 3, the rear Walt, 3 is provided with a slot I extending horizontally across the whole back and joined with aslot H of equal width in the side walls k and'i. Theslot' ll terminates in an upwardly inclined section 12 in which section the rack or bar I is ultimately positioned when the compartments are put in place. A square or" rectangular shaped rack or bar is preferably used with the'diagonals hori-' zontal and vertical and ofa size so. that the: in clined end !2 will make-a somewhat close fit over" the bar. Each of the". compartments may rest against the room wall and if the distance b'etween the bar; I and the roomwall isfthe sam'e-as the-distance of the inclinedslot l2 and: the back. wall 3' of the enclosure then the enclosure will wedge into position and hug. thetwalllquite closely.

As shown in Figure 1*, small. corner pieces I3 may be used forreenforcement. These maybe positioned near the top of. each: compartment, and at the bottom similar corner pieces Hi may be provided in which slots l5 mayv beform'ed with an opening I 6 at the. front of eachslotso that a toothbrush may be inserted and kept in each compartment; At the back of each. compartment there is a small frame'aszindicated at? 1 1-". These frames, may contairrthe name, apictu're, aletter, number or whatever. may be. desired. The frame' may be pressed into'theimaterialofthe back or may as indicatedinlTigure 2 be? formed wi'tli -an outward flange;

In the modification shown inFigure S which corresponds fairly closely to? the modification of Figuresv l to 4,.the' sideiwalljlB of the compartment has formed thereina slot with a section I9 extending outward. horizontally from thei wall and a section extending upward substantially The. slots I9. and 20' should-'- be substantiallyof the'same widthbut it-is desired at an, angle. .ot

to round the upper wallsof the slot in the section 21 where the two:v sections l9.and 20= are joined together. Thismakes it'possibleto providea slot of a width equal. tO'thBlthlCkIlBSs o1- the square rod. and still. permit a the. compartment to be: re-

moved from the'rod: without any difficulty; As J indicated in Figure: 5i each compartment rests- In the modification ofiFigure' 5, the side wall i8?- may be considerably lightened'and a heavy rounded rim 25 provided about the edge of the wall". This will lend strength to the structure making a better appearance thantwitha uniform thickness of wall, and at the-same time, secure a remarkable lightness of the compartments without perforating the walls as may be done if desired,-

In the arrangement indicated in Figure fi; the

structure. is similar to 'Figure 5 in every respect, except as will be mentioned, and'the same 'numer als will be employed for similar elements. In the:

arrangement of Figure 6; the slot26'in' theside' wall I 8 1 extends downward, in thejs'ame direction H to the slot inthe' back1wall. The topof the slot,

at 28 is spaced fromtherod'l. because of thefaet that the back vwallllifof .the. eompartment rests against the ama-222;- Theadvantageoflus ing a. straight. slot 25 as. indicated. in. Figure 6 is that the article may be molded by injection molding and removed without any difficulty and without the use of cam-action dies. In addition however, to this advantage, the compartments are not asreadily removed from the rack which might be the case if the slot were very shallow. With a very shallow slot, if there is any tendency as perhaps with the use of a large towel to pull the compartment; up with the towel when it is removed, it may be possible accidentally to remove the compartment from the rack. With a deep slot, however, as used in Figure 6, this becomes impractically' impossible.

The article of the present invention is preferably of plastic material which may be injection or compressionally molded. It may, however, be made of other types of material but plastic material is preferred. Various combinations of colors may be used since each compartment is made individual and therefore by a run of various colors in the molding, compartments of a great variety of' color may be made and the individual can select the color scheme which he may prefer. This is an advantage which is obtained by the use of individual compartments which are assembled to make the completed structure. The individual towels are hung in each compartment and since they are kept out of contact from adjoining towels not only by the enclosure of the compartment but also because of the spacing between compartments except on the outer edge, an added sanitary effect is obtained. The towel is supported by the bar' which is approximately in the middle of the compartment and therefore is spaced from the next compartment by the side wall distances between the compartment where the bar I passes from one to the other. The compartments are shown as of simple design both in external contour and as far as decorative effects are concerned. Any desirable decorative effects may be added and here again different compartments may have the same or different decorative eiTects as may be desired. Special decorative effects may be made for children to attract their attention and as a training or educational feature to suggest putting the towel back in the proper compartmentafter they are through using it.

It should also be noted in Figures 5 and 6 that there is provided at the lower portion of the side, an indentation or recess 21 which serves for the purpose of holding a wash cloth, bathing cap or other such article.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

An enclosure fora towel rack as described comprising a back wall connected to a pair of side walls with a slot formed in the back wall and extending into the side walls, the peripheral edge of said side walls, except at the edge joining the back wall being enlarged and rounded and having V-shaped corrugations whereby the side of adjacent enclosures may engage each other.

HENRY B. GOODMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 216,413 Huston June 10, 1879 356,380 Scribner Jan. 18, 1887 405,955 Feineman June 25, 1889 1,575,270 Jankowsky Mar. 2, 1926 1,750,57.5-- Cubberley Mar. 11, 1930 1,928,491 Hinkel Sept. 26, 1933 2,165,814- Redmond July 11, 1939 2,396,751-- Resnick-- -e Mar.- 19, 1946 

